How to make a hinged nest box

Making a nest box for birds is much simpler than you might think. A nest box can be made from cheap, readily available materials, in just a couple of hours. By providing nest sites for birds, you'll help them raise their young, and in return they'll reward you through their tireless efforts to hunt and eat your garden pests during spring and summer.

Once you've created your nest box, why not follow our advice on installing a nest box camera, which will give you a fascinating insight into the lives of your resident birds - from egg laying, hatching and feeding to the fledglings finally leaving the nest.

Using a tape measure, carefully mark out the pieces according to these measurements: back panel 30cm x 15cm; lid 20cm x 15cm; front 17.5cm x 15cm; base 15cm x 15cm; and two side panels cut for a sloping roof, 20cm high on the back x 17.5cm high at the front.

Not all birds like boxes with a hole for an entrance. Robins, wagtails and flycatchers, for example, need a box with a front panel that covers only two-thirds of the gap, leaving an open 'window'. Simply make the front panel smaller - 12cm long rather than 17.5cm.

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Any type of untreated wood will do - exterior grade plywood is good, but plank wood is easier to cut